Stockton organizers expect another strong start to grueling Stage 3

STOCKTON — As soon as the Amgen Tour of California finished last year, Tim Pasisz with Visit Stockton started working on this year’s event.

Last May, Stockton hosted the start of Stage 5, and though Pasisz wasn’t certain at the time his city would be selected again this year, better safe than sorry.

“We talked to them about returning and it wasn’t announced until later in 2018,” said Pasisz, sports and tourism development director. “But we knew we could do our logistical planning.”

Pasisz’s preparation was rewarded when Stockton was picked to host the start of Stage 3 for the 14th annual Amgen Tour of California professional cycling race, the second-largest race of its kind behind only the Tour de France. The day will begin with a lifestyle festival at 8:30 a.m. near Stockton Arena where spectators can interact with the riders and visit booths set up by some 35 community nonprofits and businesses. At 10:05 a.m., cancer survivor Renee Hall, who is married to Assemblymember Susan Eggman, D-Stockton, will start the riders on a parade lap through downtown before they head west on Weber Avenue toward the Port of Stockton, then through the Altamont Pass all the way to Morgan Hill.

Within 20 miles, the riders will hit “The Wall” on Patterson Pass Road, the first of five climbs and 10,000 feet of climbing. Heading east of Livermore, the riders will turn onto Mines Road and climb Mt. Hamilton, a brutal 22-mile stretch with 25 switchbacks and two technical descents with another 25 hairpin turns. The race will continue on the eastern slopes of San Jose and to the finish line near the Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Center.

Stage 3 will be far more grueling than Stage 5 last year, when riders pedaled on flatland from Stockton to Elk Grove.

“It will not be an easy day for them,” Pasisz said.

Spectators have an opportunity to watch some of the top cyclists in the world up close for free. The best spots to watch the start of Stage 3 would be near the starting line between the arena and the downtown waterfront hotel or along Weber Avenue west of Center Street.

The downtown route is as follows: From the arena, the riders will head east on Fremont Street, south on Center Street, east on Weber Avenue, north on El Dorado Street, west on Oak Street and south on Van Buren toward the arena. They’ll ride through the starting line, then head east on Fremont Street, south on Center Street and west on Weber Avenue toward the Port of Stockton. Then, they’ll take Fresno Avenue to Highway 4 where they will climb through the Altamont Pass all the way to Morgan Hill.

In addition to hosting a stage last year, Stockton hosted a stage in 2007, the second year of the tour. Lodi hosted stages in 2015 and 2016.

Pasisz said last year event organizers estimated a crowd of about 2,500 at the starting line.

“They called me afterward to say we had one of the best starts of any city,” he said. “We’re hoping for better this year.”

Pasisz said about half the field will spend Monday night in Stockton and half will spend the night in Rancho Cordova after a long day in Stage 2 riding from Rancho Cordova to South Lake Tahoe.

Plenty of logistics go into hosting a stage, including coordinating police, parking, public works, securing hotel rooms and providing hospitality for cyclists, staff and crew. Sponsors are providing 600 boxed lunches for the caravan.

Pasisz said media coverage for the Amgen Tour of California is unlike any other event that has come through Stockton. The race will be telecast on NBC Sports Network the first six days and on NBC the final day with recaps and re-airs on NBCSN each day through May 23. The race will be streamed to 120 countries and available most everywhere via NBC’s digital platforms.